The Comics Run: November 12, 2012

There's seriously a ton of great titles hitting this week; too many to list. These are just my picks; the ones I wouldn't want to live without. Your picks, and probably your dependence on said picks for your very survival, could (and should) differ.

If you want a comprehensive list of everything that’s coming out this week and not just my own picks for what’s hot, check out Diamond’s shipping list.

Batman #14 - $3.99

By Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo | DC

After last month’s chilling cliffhanger that ushered in the return of the Joker in fantastically bloody fashion, naturally I’m foaming at the mouth to see what’s coming next. No, I don’t think Alfred is going to kick the bucket, but I do think that any terror Snyder and Capullo have in store for the Dark Knight will be as equally potent as the death of Alfred would be.

Not to mention, this week also holds some Death of the Family bleed over for die-hard Bat-fans, as the story seeps into both Batgirl and Suicide Squad. It’s a good (and scary) time to be a Joker fanatic.

All-New X-Men #1 - $3.99

By Brian Bendis & Stuart Immonen | Marvel

We listed this new X-book as one of our most anticipated Marvel NOW! titles, and it’s hard to believe that the moment of its arrival is already here. The potential of the classic X-Men of Marvel Girl, Cyclops, Beast, Angel, and Iceman all arriving in the future to see what their destinies hold is just too great to not be excited, so hopefully Bendis and Immonen can deliver on the hype and emotional intrigue.

Though I might not have dug Avengers vs. X-Men all that much, words can’t express how excited I am to see the aftermath play out in the X-world, a portion of the Marvel Universe I am this excited about all-too-rarely.

Thor: God of Thunder #1 - $3.99

By Jason Aaron & Esad Ribic | Marvel

Another one of our most anticipated Marvel NOW! books, Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic’s Thor relaunch sounds like a perfect pairing for both of these creators. Aaron excels in off-the-wall ideas, so spreading Thor’s story across centuries and different eras is sure to hold some zany gold, especially considering the inclusion of Vikings and a one-armed King Thor of the future.

Likewise, Ribic will get the chance to stretch his muscles a bit and adapt his style for the different eras. With Thor’s solo titles being so engrained in the events of the Marvel Universe and the lives of his supporting cast for the last couple of years, it will be fun to watch Aaron and Ribic cut loose and deliver a personal, Thor-centric tale.

Plus, I don’t know if you heard me, but one-armed King Thor. Come on!

Point of Impact #2 - $2.99

By Jay Faerber & Koray Kuranel | Image

If you know me even a smidgen, you should know that I’ve got a thing for black-and-white comics. They’re the best. The only thing that is better than black-and-white comics is when they are black-and-white crime comics. Lucky for me, that’s exactly what Point of Impact is.

I was on vacation when the first issue came out last month so I didn’t get to talk about it much, but I dug the hell out of issue #1, and I can’t wait to continue the story here. There are lots of threads going on – a murder mystery, adultery, some CSI-type problem solving, and, of course, secrets. If you’re a fan of crime/mystery, you can’t afford to pass this series up.

Saga #7 - $2.99

By Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples | Image

Following up on my entry above, the other thing you should probably know about me is that I f***ing love Saga. Love it. Like, if I could marry a book, this would be the one. It always treats me right, even when it feels wrong. Of all of the books that I buy, this is the one that’s the most reliable. Get the metaphor yet?

In any case, this is the first new issue in a few months, so that makes it all that much more enticing. If you’ve resisted the series up to this point – firstly, why are you torturing yourself like that? – and second, the first trade paperback collection is out now. It’s only $10 and it collects everything you need leading into this installment. So, do the right thing here, kids. You also won’t find a better letters column anywhere else in comics.

It’s a great week across the board for comic publishers, but Image especially so. Not only are we getting the next installments of Saga and Point of Impact, but Ron Marz and Lee Moder’s sometimes overlooked samurai/vampire series Shinku finally gets its first collected volume.

While the series itself has suffered some delays since launch, this will be your chance to catch up in one swift (samurai sword) stroke. If you dig stylish artwork that depicts some of the bloodiest battles in modern vamp-comics without sacrificing solid, intriguing character work, Shinku should be on your list this week.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He thinks knows the world needs more horror comic books.